Surprises

 

Yesterday was a day filled with surprises. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not always receptive to those. I’m a steady, routine kind of person. I like to be in control. I like to know what’s around the next corner. Some (Robert) might say I’m even a bit boring. Yesterday was anything but…

The very first surprise was that I had slept until 5am! That is quite unusual for me. My eyes spring open at 4am with or without an alarm. And our cat is often meowing at me at 3:55. So I was pleased to get an extra hour of sleep.

 

I made coffee and checked my email. First item in my inbox was an announcement that we will have a new family member! No, not one of my direct family members, but a joy just the same. I’ll leave that for another day until the person has a chance to spread the news a little more.

 

 Next came a surprise visit from my dad. He routinely visits and had in fact been out to see us on Sunday. But he called yesterday morning and said he “needed to see us”.  I hoped and prayed as I waited that he had good news. Yes…he just came out to deliver gifts and talk about Christmas plans. He stayed to have coffee and watch a PBS show about Route 66. We chatted about the many times we traveled that road and the people we met and the dives we ate in and the car troubles we had and saw. It was one of our best visits!

 

Later I went to town to get the mail and deliver a couple of newspaper articles to a friend. A gentleman I know and respect stopped me on the sidewalk and asked me to help him with a project to honor his daughter. I am surprised and grateful to be able to help him.  

The mail brought three Christmas cards and the happy news that one of my old friends has a new grandbaby. We don’t correspond a lot and I have not seen her in about three months, so the announcement was a welcome surprise indeed.

 

In the afternoon I went to the cemetery to take some photos for a descendent of a local family. I got a surprise I have been dreading for years, but it turned out to be pleasant. I thank God for the outcome and my children know that I am quite serious. In all the years I have been photographing headstones, I have never been bothered, but I have always, always been fearful of dogs. I’m not a dog lover and both of my girls have been severely bitten by dogs. There are many living within a half mile of the cemetery and some years there have been packs of dogs roaming around town. So yesterday I was looking through the lens and heard a strange sound and turned to my right.  I had a moment of sheer panic as a huge dog bounded toward me. Praise be to God that he dropped to my feet in a “playful stance” and wagged his tail. My heart beat wildly and I had to catch my breath, but I quickly realized he was just curious.  I didn’t touch him, but I started talking as calmly as possible and told him I really didn’t need a helper. Of course he followed me all over the cemetery and even managed to get into a shot or two. Next time I’ll take my cane with me! At least I won’t feel so vulnerable.

 

 

My next and much more enjoyable surprise came when I returned to the house and took a walk down to the pond. (And yes, I took my cane with me!) My intention was to see if any of the thirty to forty ducks would stay. Of course they wouldn’t, and flew off as soon as I got within fifty feet of the water.  I decided to stand under a tree and wait for their return. Only four returned, but I found myself surround by birds! One landed right behind my head, another on the fence next to me. At one point there were at least twenty or more within ten feet of me. They flitted and chattered and walked down to the edge of the water. It was a great experience! You’d think I would have gotten more photos of them, but I had two problems. First of all, the camera has trouble distinguishing brown birds against brown mud or brown tree limbs. Second, they moved so quickly I had trouble keeping them in focus. But I captured a few.

 

My best surprise of the day came when my old friend delivered this new friend!! I now have a yard elephant to declare to all visitors that they are entering the crazy zone! Lol She also brought me a Christmas card made from photos I took for her and it was such a joy to see the results.

 
 

Ended the day with a tiny surprise: I didn’t fall asleep on the couch! Must have been that extra hour of sleep!

 

I hope today is filled with pleasant surprises for you!  

 
 
 

 

 

Comments

[Megan]

Your day sounds wonderful. Couldn't happen to a nicer person.

I'm sad that you're nervous around dogs. I've never been bitten at all and when I saw that golden retriever I wished I was there to play with it.

Your bird pictures are beautiful.

[Marilyn Crabtree]

Again, the pictures are wonderful. I'm surprised there are still so many birds this time of year. You'd think it was summer in Caddo.